Calgary garbage and recycling FAQ
Find a practical answer, then follow the guide or official source for the details that apply to your household.
How do I find my garbage day in Calgary?
Enter your exact address on the home page and choose the matching result. Each cart shows its next available date and published schedule coverage. If dates are unavailable, check the City’s schedule.
How often is each cart collected?
Blue cart collection is weekly and black cart collection is generally every two weeks. Green carts change between weekly warm-season collection and every two weeks in winter. Check your address for the actual seasonal transition and dates.
What time should I put my carts out?
Have carts out by 7 a.m. Keep lids closed, at least 1 metre from side obstacles, 0.5 metres clear behind and 3 metres clear above. The City’s placement guide has diagrams for street and alley collection.
Do collection days change on holidays?
Almost never. The City’s 2026 table shows no change for every other holiday, including Thanksgiving (October 12) and Remembrance Day (November 11). Christmas Day 2026 and New Year’s Day 2027 are still to be determined. All City landfills close on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
My cart was not emptied. What should I do?
Allow the collection window, which runs until 4:30 p.m., then check live community alerts. Read any cart tag and correct its stated problem for next time. If there is no applicable alert or tag, use the City’s missed-pickup forms or call 311, with one request per cart.
Can I put out extra garbage or recycling?
Extra black-cart garbage bags need a City garbage tag on each bag and must meet the bag size and weight rules. Extra recycling is not collected beside the blue cart; keep it for another week or use a community recycling depot.
Do coffee cups and black plastic go in the blue cart?
Paper coffee cups go in the blue cart after emptying, and so do their plastic lids. Accepted household plastic packaging can include black plastic. Colour alone does not decide whether a plastic item is recyclable; check the specific item and its preparation.
What can go in the blue cart since October 1, 2026?
Snack bags, wrappers and pouches; toothpaste, deodorant and lotion tubes; foam packaging blocks, egg cartons, meat trays and takeout containers; and aerosols you eat or apply to your body. Items must be empty, clean and loose, and only packaging is accepted, not products. Blue cart pickup is still weekly.
When does the green cart switch to every other week?
Green carts are collected weekly from April to October and every other week from November to March. The first winter date depends on your route, so check your address once the City publishes the winter schedule.
Can meat, bones and pet waste go in the green cart?
Yes. Meat, bones and dairy are accepted food scraps. Pet waste and all types of kitty litter are also accepted, but must be contained in a closed paper or certified compostable bag. Regular plastic bags do not belong in the green cart.
Where do I take batteries and electronics?
Use the item’s accepted drop-off route. Intact household batteries have designated collection options; damaged batteries must be handed to Eco Centre staff. Electronics go to Eco Centres or participating recyclers. Fire-station hazardous-waste depots do not accept the same range of materials.
Is the Calgary dump open on Sunday?
Spyhill and Shepard landfills are closed every Sunday. East Calgary is open on Sundays from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. from April to October, and closes on Sundays from November 2026 for the winter. All three are open Monday to Saturday.
Are there free dump days in Calgary?
Some materials are always free at City Eco Centres: electronics, household hazardous waste, clothing and textiles, eligible tires and foam. Extra yard waste is free during the City’s spring and fall drop-off periods (fall 2026: September 18 to October 31). Most other loads under 250 kg cost a flat $25.
How do I get a new or replacement cart?
Use the City’s get, fix or replace a cart service to choose the request that matches the problem. The City sets eligibility, available options and any fees.
Do these schedules cover my apartment or condo?
Many apartment and condominium properties use a building collection provider. Ask your property manager which schedule applies. A nearby residential address is not a substitute for your building’s service information.
Is this the official City of Calgary website?
No. GarbageCalgary.ca is an independent service using City open data and published disposal guidance. The City’s own tools and instructions are the final authority.
Something still unclear? Send a correction or question.